Sash balance



March 13, 1945. i A. VIEHwl-:GER

sAsH BALANCE Filed Nov. 5, i943 www.MMMMHWEE E.

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Patented Mar. 13, 1945 l SASH BALANCE August Vehweger, Richford, N. Y., assigner to Grand Rapids Hardware Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.`

Application November 5, 1943, Serial No. 509,033

(Cl. lli- 197) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sash balances.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a sash balance which is simple and economical in structure and which may be readily installed by comparatively unskilled workmen. v

Second, to provide a sash balance in which the tension of the spring element may be easily and accurately adjusted for the requirementsof the particular installation. l

Third, to provide a sash balance which has a wide range of adaptability of load aswell as of installation.

Fourth, to provide a sash balance of the spring type which is substantially noiseless in operation.

Further objects relating vto4 details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

' Fig. V1 is a fragmentary view of an installation of 4sash balance embodying my invention, the casing and the window being partially broken away vand sectioned, and the casing of the balance being partially broken away and in longitudinal section on line I-I of Fig. 6. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to that of Fig. l, with the window in open position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially broken away and partially in longitudinal section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded view showing details of various parts of the balance.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a window embodying a pair of sash balances.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pulley block or guide element.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I represents a window casing and -2 a window sash slidable therein. The window sash is longitudinally grooved at 3, preferably in both vertical edges thereof, although sometimes a singlesash balance is employed, and as the sash balances are duplicates only one will be illustrated and described.

My improved sash balance comprises a tubular casing 4 having a longitudinal slot 5 therein. One end of this casing is provided with a pluglike closure 6 which is`secured by indenting portions of the casing 1 into recesses 8 of the plug. The casing and plug have registering holes receiving the attaching screw 9. yA tubular ratchet member I0 is inserted into the other end of the casing and is secured therein by indenting opposed portions II of the casing into recesses I 2 provided therefor in the ratchet member. This provides opposed transverse notched or slot-like recesses I3 adapted to receive the arms of the staple I4 which coact with the screw 9 in anchoring the casing within the groove of the sash. l

A tubular adjusting or spring tension member I5 is rotatably and axially movable within the ratchet member III, the member I5 being notched at I6 to receive an adjusting tool. The movable ratchet member I1 is sleeved upon the member I5 and fixedly secured thereto by upsetting the ratchet member and the adjusting member, as indicated at I8. This upset provides an internal shoulder I9 with the adjusting member which serves as a support for the anchoring member 2B of the cable 2|. The cable 2l is roved or passed around the pulley 22 of the pulley block 23, which is slidable within the casing and provided with aflug 24 slidable within the slot, thus preventing rotative movement of the pulley block. The cable terminates in a loop 25 adapted to receive a screw 26 by which it may be attached to the casing, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The coiled compression. spring 2l is housed Within the casing, being preferably a reasonably f adjusting member projecting inwardly of the.

clutch member Il, which constitutes a thrust shoulder for the spring.

To prevent kinking and possible overlapping of the coils of the spring, I provide a tubular rod 33 which frictionally iits within the intermediate coils of the spring, thus supporting the rod with its ends in spaced relation to the thrust block 28 and the inner end of the adjusting member.

This permits collapsing of the spring as the pulley block is actuated against the tension of the spring as results from movementof the window to its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.

balance is very simple and economical in its parts in the assembly thereof and can be installed by relatively unskilled Workmen: and-can be readily tension engaging said pulley block, and a cable roved around the pulley of said pulley block and disposed longitudinally through said spring, the inner end of said cable being provi-ded with an anchoring block within said adjusting member, the outer end of said cable being provided with attaching means.

3. I n a sash balance the combination of a longitudinally'slotted tubular casing, a plug xed in one end of said casing,'a` tubular fixed ratchet member secured within the other end of said casing, a tubular adjusting member axially and adjusted to eiiect-the desired counterbalancing action. I have illustrated and described an embodiment which I consider'. .practica1. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe ce"- tain modications or adaptations, as it is believed this disclosurewill. enable thosel skilled in the art to embody or adapt the vinvention as may be desired. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim. asnew and desire 'to secure by Letters P atent'is: l A,

1. In a sash balance the combination of a longitudinally slotted tubular casing, a plug fixed in one end of said casing, said casing and plug having, registering holes adapted to receive an attaching screw,a, tubular ixedratchet member secured Wlthintherother end of said casingl by opposed indentationsin the; casing, which indentations constitute recesses for the prongs of an attaching staple, a tubular adjusting member axially and rotatably adjustable insaid xed ratchet member, an ladjustable ratchet member sleeved uponsaid adjusting member in spaced relation to the ends thereof and having ratchet teeth` coacting with the teeth of said fixed ratchet member, said ratchet member being secured to said adjustingmember by indentations resulting in internalshoulders within said adjusting member, a pulley block slidable in said casing and provided with a lugengaging saidslot thereof, a coiled springhaving one end thereof in -clutching engagement tvith vthe inner end or said adjusting member and abutting the said ratchet member thereof, the other. end of said spring being thrustingly associated with and terminating in an extension engaging said pulley block, and a cable roved varound the pulley of said pulley blockl and disposed longitudinally through said spring, the .inner end of said cable beingrprovided with an anchoring4 block rotatively engaging said shoulder .Within said adjusting member, the outer endof said cable being provided with attaching means. l l l 2. In a sash balance the .combination of a longitudinally slotted tubular casing, a plug fixed in one end of saidfcaysing, a tubular fixed ratchet member secured within the other end of said casing, a tubular adjusting member axially and rotatably adjustable in said iixed'ratchet member, anadjustable ratchet .member xed upon said adjusting member in spaced relation to the endsthereof .and having ratchet "teeth coacting .with the teethof said xed ratchet member, a pulleyjblock slidable in said vcasing and provided -with a lug 'engaging' said slot thereof, a coiled 'spring having one vend thereof in clutching engagementwith thefinner end of said adjusting member and abutting the. said` ratchet member thereof,v theother end of said spring being thrustinglyamated with. all@ @erminatng in aP. ex

rotatably adjustable in said xed ratchet member, an adjustable ratchet member fixed upon said adjusting member in spaced relation to the ends thereof and having ratchet teeth coacting with the'teeth of 'sai-d Xed ratchet member, a pulley block slida'ble in said casing and provided with a lug engaging said slot thereof, a coiled spring having one end thereof in clutching engagement with the inner end of said adjusting member and abutting the said ratchet member thereof, the other end of said spring being/thrustingly associated with an=d terminating in an extension engagingsaid pulley block, a tubular rod arranged centrally Within said' spring in supporting engagement with intermediate coils thereof and With its ends in spaced relation to the inner end of the adjusting. member and said pulleyblock, and a cable roved around the pulley of said pulley block and disposed longitudinally through said spring and rod therein, the inner end of said cable being provided with an anchoring block within said adjusting member, the outer end of said cable being provided with at.- taching means.

4. In a Sash balance the combination of a longitudinally slottedtubular casing, a plug fixed in one end of said casing, a tubular fixed ratchet member secured within the other end of said casing, a tubular adjusting member axially and rotatably adjustable in said iixed ratchet member, an adjustable ratchet member fixed upon said adjusting member in spaced relation to the ends thereof and having ratchet teeth coacting with the teeth of said fixed ratchet member, a pulley block slidable in said casing and provided with a lug engaging` said slot thereof, a spring thrust member yseated on said pulley block, a coiled spring having one end thereof in clutching engagement with the inner end of said adjusting member and abutting the said ratchet member thereof, the other end of said spring being thrustingly associated with and terminating in an extension. engaging said pulley block, a tubular rod arranged centrally within said spring in supporting engagement with intermediate coils thereof and With its ends in spaced relation to the inner end of the adjusting member and said pulley block, and a cable roved around the pulley of said pulley block and disposed longitudinally through said spring and rod therein, the inner end orsaid cable being provided with an anchoring block within said adjusting member, theouter end of said cable being provided with attaching means. Y

5-. In a sash balance the combination of a longitudinaily` slotted tubular casing, a tubular fixed ratchet member within said casing, an adjusting member axially and rotatably adjustable-in said fixed ratchet member and provided with ratchet teeth coacting .Withthe teeth of said xed ratchet member, -a Acable guidenmemberhoused within said casing and slidably engaging said, slot there'- ovf, a coiledqompression spring havingnone. end

thereof connected to said adjusting member and the other in thrust relation to said guide member, a tubular rod arranged centrally within said spring in supporting engagement with intermediate coils thereof and with its ends in spaced relation to the inner end of the adjusting member and said guide member, and a cable roved around said guide member and disposed longitudinally through said spring and rod therein, the inner end of said cable being anchored to said adjusting member.

6. In a sash balance the combination of a longitudinally slotted tubular casing, a'tubular lixed ratchet member within said casing, an adjusting member axially and rotatably adjustable in said xed ratchet member and provided with ratchet teeth coacting with the teeth of said xed ratchet member, a cable guide member housed Within said casing and slidably engaging said slot thereof, a coiled compression spring having one end thereof connected to said adjusting member and the other in thrust relation to said guide lation to said guide member, a tubular rod arranged within said spring in supporting and supported engagement with intermediate coils thereof and with its ends spaced from the ends of the springwhen the spring is in extended position, and a cable disposed'longitudinally Within said spring and rod, anchored at its inner end and roved around said cable guide member.

8. In a sash balance the combination of a longitudinally slotted tubular casing, a Xed ratchet member at one end of said casing, a tensioning member including an adjustable ratchet member coacting with said fixed ratchet member, a cable guide member housed within said casing and slidably engaging said slot thereof, a coiled spring having one end thereof connected to said tensioning member and theAother in thrust relation to said guide member, and a cable disposed longitudinally within said spring, anchored at its inner,

end and roved around said cable guide member.

9. In a sash balance the combination of a longitudinally slotted tubular casing, a cable guide element slidable Within said casing and slidably engaging said slot, a compression spring disposed Within said casing in thrust rrelation to said cable guide element, ratchet means for tensioning said spring, said spring acting to normally engage said ratchet means, and a cable roved over said guide element and anchored within said casing.

10. In a sash balance, the combination of a supporta xed ratchet member at one end of said support, a tensioning member including an adjustable ratchet member coacting With said iixedratchet member, a cable guide member slidably and non-rotatably lcarried -by said support,

a coiled springhaving one end thereof connected i outer end being provided with attaching means.

1l. In a sash balance the combination of a casing, a coiled compression spring housed within the said casing, a cable .guide element slidable Within said casing and in thrust engagement With one end of said spring, means for supporting and tensioning the other end of said spring housed Within said casing, and a cable disposed Within and longitudinally of said spring and anchored at its inner end and roved over said guide member.

12. In a sash balance the combination of a support, a coiled compression springgaxially supported at one end on said support, a cable guide element slidable on said support and in thrust engagement with t-he other end` of said spring, means for tensioning said spring, said spring tensioning means including means for anchoring one end of said spring against rotation and rotatably adjusting the opposite end of said spring, anda cable ldisposed longitudinally of said spring and anchored at its inner end and roved over said guide member.

13. In a sash balance the combination of a support, a coiled compression spring axially supported at one end on said support, a cable guide element slidable on said support and in thrust engagement with the other end of said spring, and a cable disposed within and longitudinally of said spring and anchored at its inner end and roved over said guide element.

14. In a sash balance the combination of a support, a cable guide element slidable longitudinally of said support, a coiled compressionv spring disposed in thrust relation to said cable guide element, means for tensioning said spring, said spring tensioning means including means for anchoring one end of said spring against rotation and rotatably adjusting the opposite end of said spring, and a cable roved over'said guide member and having its inner end anchored to said support and its outer end extending from said guide means for attachment to a Window or its AUGUST VIEHWEGER. 

